Pneumatic vehicle wheel



Patented Jan. 20, 1931 swarm: MUNSQN, or rrr'rsnuae, Kansas mmumrrc VEHICLE WHEEL Application filed October 28, 1929. Serial No. 401,840.

This invention relates to a vehicle wheel of the pneumatic type and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth the tire therefor so formed as to prevent its sidesfrom contacting with and being cut by the wheel rim when the tire is de-- flated. v

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner'as hereinafter set forth, a 10 vehicle wheel having its tire so formed as to reduce possibility of the puncturing thereof to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

vehicle wheel having an inflatable tire thereof of the pneumatic type, but with the tire set up wit out the employment of a removable inner tube, but when inflated to provide a cushioning action on the travel of the 2 wheel. I r

A further object of the inventionis to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vehicle wheel having the tire thereof formed with a reinforcement to make the tire substantially puncture proof, as-well as stifi'ening the same so that it will require less airpressure for inflation than the tires of a'similar type now generally used, and ride in an efficient cushioning manner, and further with the tire so constructed that if it should become deflated it can be used for traction puroses until a garage or other re airpoint' or the tire is reached without in ury to the side walls thereof. 1

A further object of the invention is to rovide, in a manner as hereinafter set fort a vehicle wheel having an inflatable tire reinforced in a manner to increase the life of the tread thereof and further with-thewheel 'havin elements for securing the tire against the si es of the rim of the wheel.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

vehicle wheel of the pneumatic type which 5 is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readily assembled, and

com aratively inexpensive to set up.

ith the foregomg and other objects 'in view the inventionconsists of the novel con against the outer face of part 9 and of cresstruction, combination and arran ment of parts "as hereinafter more speci cally de-' scribed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to-which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like referenc characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views a Figure 1 is a fra mentar View in cross section of a vehicle w eel of t e pneumatic type in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is afragmentary view in side ele- 6!? vation and partly in ,SGCtlOIl of a vehicle wheel of the pneumatic type in accordance with this invention. i

The wheel includ s an annular rim 1 which'is of substantially T-shaped contour in cross section and in cross section the'rim l gradually increases in width from its transverse median toward the outer and inner edges thereof. The. body of the rim is indicated at 2, its outer edge at 3 and its w rear edge at 4. In cross section the outer edge 3 of body 2 is of less length than the inner edge l. Each side edge of the body 2 is formed with an annular groove of concaved cross section. The grooves are indicated at 5, 6. The inner edge 4' of rim 1, in cross section is of eater length than the cross sectional lengti of the .felloe. against which the riml is mounted. The felloe will u be presently referred tor The walls of the grooves 5, 6 at their outer ends are positioned in close proximity to the outer and rear edges of body 2. The function of the grooves 5 -6 will be presently referredto.

The inflatable tire is referred to generally at 7 and it comprises a split, annular casing 8 formed from at least four plies or lamina- ,tions 85 of rubberized fabric or other suitable material, a tread reinforcing 9 crescent shapev in cross section, ositioned against the outer face of the trea part of the outer ply 8 and formed of plies or laminations 'ofrubberized fabric or other suitable material,

a tread portion 10 of rubber positioned m0 cent shaped cross section, an annular enlargement 11 of frusto-conical cross section formed of plies or laminations of rubberized fabric or other suitable material and which is positioned against the inner face of the has its edges terminating a substantial distance inwardly of the split edges of the casing 8. The lining 12is of the desired thickness and is impervious to air.

The parts, portions or elements of the tire are vulcanized together. The tread portion 10 terminates a substantial distance from the split ends of the casing 8.

The inner portion 13 of each side of the casing 8 is positioned within a groove 5 or 6 and the edges of said sides are flush with the side edges of the rim 1 at the inner portion of the latter. The portions 13 of the casing 8 snugly engage the walls 'of the grooves 5, 6 throughout and are bent over to form grooves 14 of semi-circular cross section and in which are arranged outward-.

ly opening, oppositely disposed channeled retaining rings 15, which receive pairs of clamping elements to be presently referred to for the purpose of binding the portions 13 of the tire 7 to the rim 1 to couple the latter with the former.

The rim 1 is shown by way of example, as mounted on the felloe of a wheel body of the disc type. The wheel body includes a web 16 which is laterally flanged at its outer portion, as at 17, and attached to that side of the web, opposite the side from which projects the flange 17 is an annulus 18 of angle-shaped cross section havin its horizontal part 19 aligning with the fl ange 17 to provide the felloe. The cross sectional length of the felloe is less than the cross sectional length of the rim. The tire is coupled with the rim, and the outer edge of'the latter forms a continuation of the wall of the air chamber 20 with which communicates, through the rim 1 an air inlet valve 21. The chamber is provided by the casing 8.

A plurality of pairs of clamps are employedfor securing the tire to the rim 1.

The clamps of each pair are oppositely disposed. As each clamp is of like construction, but one will be described, as the description of one will apply to the other.

Each clamp comprises a shank 22, a bill- 23 integral with one end of the shank 22 and disposed at right angles to the latter, and a laterally disposed head 24 integral with the upper end of shank 22 and arranged in' parallelism with respect to the bill 23'.

The head 24 is of greater thickness than the bill 23 and is formed with a lengthwise disosed openin 25. The head24 overlaps the elloe when t e clamp is in active position.

The openings 25 of each pair of clamps align and extending therethrough is a clamping bolt 26 carrying a securing nut 27. The web 16 and annulus 18 are formed with aligning openings 28, 29 respectively, in proximity to the felloe for the passage of the bolt 26. The number of openings 28, 29 corres onds in number to the number of the pairs 0 clamps employed. The thickness of the shank 22 is greater than that of thebill 23 and the latter is of rectangular contour in cross'sectiom.

A pair of oppositely disposed, annular cover members 30, 31 are attached to the web 16. The member 30 encloses the up er portion of theclamps 32 of the pairs 0 'clam s and the member 31 completely encloses t e clamps 33 of the pairs of clamps and the nuts 27. The cover members 30, 31 are substantially channel-shaped and open inwardly.

They also act as a protecting means for the clamping bolts.

The member 30 com rises a rear wall 34, an outer wall 35 and a wall 35 opposes the upper portions of the clamps 32. The wall 36 is provided with openings for the passage of the shanks of the clamps 32. The wall 34 abuts against the web 16 and is formed with arearwardly ex tending flange 37, which also abuts the web 16. The wall 36 is of less length than the length of wall 34 and is positioned outwardly with respect to the felloe and extends to the rim 1.

The member 31 comprises a rear wall 38 and an outer wall 39 having an inwardly extending, curved forward portion 40. which projects beyond the forward end of the clamp 33. The wall 39 completely encloses the clamp 33 and nuts 27.- The wall 38 at its inner end is provided with an angle-shaped orward wall 36. Theclam s the flanges 37 and 41*against the web.

16 w ereby thacover members 30, 31 are detachably secured in position. The number of bolts 43 and nuts 44 can be as desired.

The openings formed in the wall 36 for the passage of the shanks 22 of the clam s 32 are mdicated at 45. The walls 34 an 38 are arranged in close proximity to the head of the it will require less air pressure than that employed in other tires and will still ride just as easy and also reduce to a minimum the dread of all motorists of having a tire puncture, but if it should puncture or deflate, they can ride until a 'point where repair can be reached without injury from rim cutting, because the enlargement 11 will carry the load on the rim to keep the Walls of the casing from comin into contact with the latter,

- therefore it is thought the many advantages ance with this invention can be readily underof awheel of the pneumatic type in accordstood, and although the preferred embod ment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that- .changes in the details of construction can be the scope of the had which will fall within invention as claimed.

What I claim is: 1

1. In a pneumatic wheel,'a tire comprising an inflatable, split, annular casing formed of flexible laminations, an enlargement formed of flexible laminations projectinginwardly from and 'havin its sides free of the inner lamination of said casing for positioning in circumferential, spaced relation with res ect to the rim of the wheel, an impervious, ex-

ible lining secured to the inner lamination of the casing and enclosing said'enlargement, a tread reinforcement of crescent sha ed cross section positioned against-the trea part of the outer lamination of said-casing, and a enlargement being frusto-conical in cross sec-' tion, said lining terminating adjacent the split ends of the casing.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

'SWENEY MUNSON.

resilient tread of crescent shaped cross section enclosing said tread reinforcement.

2. In a pneumatic wheel, a tire comprising an inflatable, split, annular casing formed of flexible laminations, an enlargement formed i of flexible laminations projectin from and having its sides free 0 lamination of said casing for positioning in inwardly circumferential, spaced relation with res ect.

to the rim of the wheel, an impervious, exible lining secured to the inner lamination of the casing and enclosing said enlargement, a tread reinforcement of crescent sha ed cross section positioned against the trea part of the outer lamination of said casing, and a re silient tread ofcrescent shaped cross section enclosing said tread reinforcement, said enthe inner largement beingfrusto-conical in cross seca tread reinforcement of crescent shaped I cross section positioned againstthe tread part of the outer lamination of said casing-and a resilient tread of crescent shapedcross sec-- tion enclosing said tread reinforcement, said 

